Distinguished Student Contribution
The Division offers this award to a graduate student in psychology who has made a distinguished contribution to research or practice, or who has performed exceptional service to the Division. Winners of this award represent the future of this Division, and have taken leadership early in their careers to advance LGBT issues in psychology. Graduate program faculty are encouraged to nominate their students for this award; self-nominations are also encouraged.
2007 winners
John Pachankis - SUNY Stony Brook
John Pachankis is currently pursuing his doctorate in Clinical Psychology at State University of New York, Stony Brook, and just beginning his internship at McLean Hospital in Boston. At Stony Brook, he has been described as "amazing" by his mentor (Division 44 ally Marvin Goldfried), and received his department's dissertation award for his study entitled "Mental and Physical Health Benefits of Disclosing Gay-Related Stress." Mr. Pachankis already has nine publications to his credit, has successfully taught diversity courses, has completed practica in LGBT-relevant settings, has been instrumental in furthering the work of AFFIRM, the ally group founded by Dr. Goldfried, has served as chair of the APAGS Committee on LGBT Concerns, and has served as the student representative on the Division19/44 task force on Military Service. Clearly, Mr. Pachankis has a bright future ahead of him and we congratulate him for his impressive accomplishments.
Brandy Smith - University of Memphis
Brandy Smith is currently pursuing her PhD in Counseling Psychology at the University of Memphis, and just beginning her internship at the University of Oregon. Brandy has been described by her mentor as having "extraordinary commitment" to LGBT issues, and her dissertation is entitled "The Psychological Impact of Bias-motivated Offenses Against Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Individuals Across Four Samples." Ms. Smith has 8 manuscripts to her credit, 20 presentations, several awards, teaching experience in LGBT issues, an award as the counseling psychology Student of the Year at Memphis, and five years of volunteering in the convention suite. Clearly, Ms. Smith has a bright future ahead of her.
2006 winner
David W. Pantalone - University of Washington
Mr. Pantalone received his Bachelor's Degree from Brown University and is currently a Doctoral Candidate at the University of Washington. Dr. Jane Simone, his academic advisor commended his performance with the following statement:
"After being admitted...David dove directly into his classes, his research assistantship on my project and his own research program...David independently selected his dissertation topic on partner violence among gay and bisexual men with HIV in consultation with direct-care providers at our collaborating HIV/AIDS clinic. David went on to recruit an advisory committee of national experts and he wrote a successful research application for funding to study it from the National Institute of Mental Health. Few students in our program apply for external funding and virtually none begin as early in their graduate career as did David. His work on the topic of interpersonal violence and HIV is bound to yield important information about this unfortunately common phenomenon in the lives of already stigmatized individuals."
Past winners
- 2005 No award
- 2004 No award
- 2003 Francisco Sanchez, Kathy Banga
- 2002 Kimberly Balsam
- 2001 Silvestro Menzano
- 2000 Julie Konik
- 1999 no award
- 1998 James Cantor
- 1997 Neil Pilkington
- 1996 Barry Chung
- 1995 Jessica Morris
- 1994 Karen Jordan
- 1992 Pamela Brand, David Flaks
Nominations
Please send nominations for this award to the president-elect